Apple’s Futuristic 20th Anniversary “All-Glass” iPhone Reportedly Canceled

Apple reportedly put an end to its plans for a 2027 all-glass iPhone, according to a report by Jefferies analyst Edison Lee. The ambitious design was intended to celebrate the iPhone's 20th anniversary, with a launch originally scheduled for September of that year. However, production yields for the device proved to be unsatisfactory, with too many units failing to meet the required specifications.

This manufacturing issue, coupled with the rising costs of memory, could have made the all-glass iPhone more expensive than Apple's conventional flagship models. The device was expected to offer a retail average selling price of approximately $2,060, which would have made it significantly pricier than Apple's regular flagship phones.

The design aimed to feature a heavily curved glass build with a display that curved around all four edges, providing a nearly bezel-free appearance and a thinner, brighter screen. Apple was reportedly working with Samsung on a custom micro-curved OLED panel for the device. However, the complicated display design was facing technical challenges, including distortion at the edges and reduced maximum brightness.

These display issues may have contributed to the low production yields, although Jefferies did not explicitly state this as the reason for canceling the all-glass iPhone. While Apple has not confirmed the cancellation of the ambitious all-glass device, the cancellation is limited to this specific model and does not affect the company's broader iPhone lineup.